Health, medical care, illness, treatment - the topic is very relevant and, unfortunately for many, inevitable. There are a few lucky people in the world who have never come to the attention of doctors. The dialogues presented below in English not only contain valuable information: the necessary lexical minimum and very useful verb constructions, but also, perhaps, will cheer up someone.
DOCTOR SMITH TREATS HIS PATIENTS
DOCTOR SMITH ACCEPTS PATIENTS
Dialogue in English with a doctor - Dialogue 1.
Good morning, doctor.
- Good morning, Mr. White. What's the matter with you?
- Oh, Doctor, it "s quite difficult to describe my condition! The things seem to be awful. I"ve got all the illnesses you have ever seen during your practice. Perhaps I"m the first patient who will die in your study. First of all, I"ve got a terrific headache. It has been lasting since Friday and it seems to me that it"ll never end. Besides I"m constantly coughing, evidently I"ve caught a cold. I have a sore throat and I haven"t been sleeping for the last fortnight already .
- Please, don"t worry. I"m sure, you won"t die here or somewhere else. I"ll try to help you. Have you taken your temperature?
- Of course, I have. It's 37.50 (thirty seven point five).
- Well, let me see... Open your mouth... The things don"t seem so bad as you imagine. You"ve really caught a cold: your headache, cough and insomnia are the direct aftereffects of it. The temperature is not very high, and your lungs are all right, but I"ll write out some prescriptions for pills and tonic... You have to take them four times a day during this week. Besides I have no doubts that you" ve been run down and you need to have a short rest.
- Really? Maybe you"re quite right, Doctor. I"ll try to follow your advice, but as for my rest... Unfortunately I have no time at all.
- But you"ll have a nervous breakdown!
- Well, I'm ready to make my will and prepare for a better world!
- Good luck, Mr. White. See you later.
- In a better world?
- No, no! Let's hope for the best!
Vocabulary notes to the dialogue:
Dialogue in English - at the doctor - Dialogue 1. Comments on the dialogue:
what"s the matter with...? what happened, what happened to...? pay attention to the use of the preposition in this construction - it coincides with the Russian equivalent, which cannot be said about the construction: what"s happened to..? what happened with...?
perhaps or sometimes ["præps] (colloquial) quite possibly, maybe; probably, perhaps
to last last
it seems to smb (to me, to him, to her, etc.) it seems
evidently apparently
as bad (good, interesting, beautiful, silly, etc.) as... sentences, for example: He's not so witty as his elder brother. He is not as witty as his elder brother.
aftereffect consequence, result
will (w.) will
to prepare for a better world prepare to die: lit. prepare to move to a better world
see you later bye, see you later
let's hope for the best
Dialogue in English with a doctor - Dialogue 2
Good afternoon, Mrs. Kein. Come in, please. Take a seat.
- Good afternoon, Doctor. Glad to see you.
- Haven't seen you long. Is anything wrong again?
- I feel well, thank you. I"ve come to you because my husband seems to be seriously ill but he"s so obstinate that he"ll never visit you!
- Well, I see. So what "s happened to him?
- He had a crash the other day and badly damaged the car. Besides I"m afraid he"s got some serious injuries. Something "s happened to his neck, right shoulder and right leg. He can hardly move. I don"t know how can I bring him to you. Somebody"s given him a suspicious ointment and he is constantly rubbing it in his sore spots.
- Great! No comments! Unfortunately I can"t treat your husband at a distance. Try to explain him that he must go to the hospital, have his shoulder, neck and leg X-rayed and then come to me. I"ll certainly help him.
- Thank you, Doctor. I"ll make another attempt.
- See you later. You and your husband both!
Some words and phrases for the topic “Medicine, health”:
Some useful words and word combinations:
obstinate stubborn
injury injury, damage
ache (n.) pain (continued, not sudden); Usually the noun ache is part of compound words, for example: headache headache, toothache toothache, earache pain in the ears, stomach-ache pain in abdominal cavity etc.
ache (vl) to be sick; She "s broken her finger. Now she complains that it aches. She broke her finger. Now she complains that it hurts.
pain pain (strong, acute, sharp, attacks); painful, painless
to have (got) a cold (headache, backache, insomnia, stomachache)
to catch (a) cold
flu (flu) flu
to feel unwell, to feel unwell; to be in bad (good) condition
to be in no condition to do smth
to give up (smoking) stop (occupation, habit), quit (smoking): If you can"t give up smoking, at least try to keep off alcohol! If you can’t quit smoking, then at least limit yourself to alcohol!
to take medicine (pills, tonics)
insomnia insomnia
cough cough
to have a sore throat
to take smb"s temperature measure temperature
to write out a prescription for... write a prescription for...
to be run down
a nervous breakdown
sore spot
to rub in smear (with medicine), rub in (ointment, cream, etc.)
We continue the series of articles DIALOGUES IN ENGLISH. Today we will give examples of dialogues between a doctor and a patient in English – dialogues “At the doctor’s”. All dialogues are given with translation into Russian.
Dialogue between doctor and patient
Doctor: Come in, please.
Patient: Thank you. Doctor, I decided to make an appointment because yesterday I had a splitting headache and rash all over my body after taking pills for stomach pain.
Doctor: Did I write out a prescription for taking the pills?
Patient: Yes, here it is.
Doctor: These pills are very strong. They can trigger such symptoms as dizziness, nausea and even rash. Let me check you. I’ll measure your blood pressure but firstly put a thermometer into your armpit.
(After a while)
Doctor: Your temperature is in the normal range but your blood pressure is very low. Did you read the medicine label before taking those pills?
Patient: No, I thought your prescription and recommendations were enough to take them correctly.
Doctor: What dose did you take at once?
Patient: I took two pills.
Doctor: So everything should have been all right then. You told me you had no allergies. What's wrong then?
Patient: Just a few days ago I was sneezing all day long but I went on taking the pills.
Doctor: As far as these pills are concerned, they mustn’t be taken if you have any allergies. So taking them caused terrible side effects.
TRANSLATION OF THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE PATIENT AND THE DOCTOR
Doctor: Please pass.
Patient: Thank you. Doctor, I decided to make an appointment because yesterday I had a severe headache and a rash all over my body after taking pills for stomach pain.
Doctor: Did I give you a prescription to take the pills?
Patient: Yes, here it is.
Doctor: These pills are very strong. They can cause side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and even rash. Let me test you. I'll measure yours blood pressure, but take your temperature first.
(Over time)
Doctor: Your temperature is within normal limits, but your blood pressure is very low. Have you read the medication label before taking these pills?
Patient: No, I thought that your recipe and recommendations were enough to take them correctly.
Doctor: What dose did you take at a time?
Patient: Two tablets.
Doctor: Everything should have been fine. You said you don't have allergies. What happened next?
Patient: Just a few days ago I was sneezing all day, but I continued taking the pills.
Doctor: These pills should not be taken if you have an allergic reaction, so taking them caused terrible side effects.
Dialogue “At a doctor’s appointment”
Doctor: Good afternoon. How can I help you today?
Patient: I don't feel very well.
Doctor: What's the matter?
Patient: I’ve got an earache and a fever.
Doctor: Sit on the table please, so I can look in your ear. You have an ear infection.
Patient: What do I need to do?
Doctor: You need to put drops in his ear twice a day. Here is a prescription for you to take to the pharmacy.
TRANSLATION OF THE DIALOGUE “At a doctor's appointment.”
Doctor: Good afternoon. How can I help you today?
Patient: I do not feel well.
Doctor: What's happened?
Patient: I have a fever and my ear hurts.
Doctor: Please sit down, I will examine your ear. You have an ear infection.
Patient: What should I do?
Doctor: You need to put the drops in your ear twice a day. Here's the recipe, go to the pharmacy.
Dialogue at the doctor's
Patient: Doctor, please help me. My ankle hurts.
Doctor: What happened?
Patient: I twisted it when I was playing football.
Doctor: Let me have a look. (Pause) It is broken. I'm sorry. You will need to wear a cast for three months.
Patient: That's too bad. No more football this summer!
Patient: Thank you, doctor.
TRANSLATION OF THE DIALOGUE AT THE DOCTOR'S
Patient: Doctor, please help me. My ankle hurts.
Doctor: What's happened?
Patient: I twisted it when I was playing football.
Doctor: Let me see. (pause) It's broken. I'm sorry. You will need to wear a cast for three months.
Patient: this is very bad. No football this summer!
Patient: Thank you Doctor.
Dialogue on the topic “Visiting the doctor.”
D: Come in. Hello! What brings you here today?
P: Well, I've got a problem with my eye. It’s been itchy and swollen since last night.
D: I see. Is it painful?
P: Yes. It’s very sore, it hurts when I blink.
D: Let me have a look at it. Your eyelid is indeed swollen. Have you put any drops in it?
P: Yes, I’ve got some eye drops from the chemist’s, but they didn’t do anything
D: This looks like an eye infection. I think you need antibiotics. Are you allergic to them?
P: No, I'm not
D: OK. I'm going to prescribe some eye drops as well. If it doesn't get better, come back and see me again.
P: OK. Thanks, doctor.
TRANSLATION OF THE DIALOGUE “Visiting the Doctor”.
D: Come on in. Hello! What brings you here today?
P: Well, I have a problem with my eye. It's swollen and itchy since last night.
D: I see. Hurt?
P: Yes, it hurts a lot. It hurts when I blink.
D: Let me take a look at it. The eyelid is really swollen. Did you bury anything?
P: Yes, I have eye drops from the pharmacy, but they didn't help.
D: It looks like an eye infection. I think you need antibiotics. Are you allergic to them?
P: No.
D: OK. I'll write it out for you eye drops. If it doesn’t get better, come and we’ll sort it out.
P: OK. Thank you Doctor.
I hope these dialogues were useful to you.
It is best to expand your vocabulary, consolidate grammatical structures and hone your pronunciation through live communication, which cannot be replaced by anything. At the same time, composing and learning your own English dialogues is a rewarding and effective activity. Such English dialogues must be acted out in pairs, practice two-way translation, supplemented, expanded and memorized. In this article you will find English dialogues with audio that you can listen to and read. You can download dialogues in English after each dialogue. Audio dialogues in English help you hear speech and pronunciation of words, which will later help you in a real conversation to grasp English sentences from these English dialogues much easier and faster.
Indeed, in such an important health situation, like a doctor’s, for example, the right word can come out at the most inopportune moment, which can lead to the most irreversible consequences. Today we will look at short English dialogues on the topic: “At the doctor’s.” When going on a business trip or vacation to an English-speaking country, I recommend learning, understanding - learning the symptoms and manifestations of those that you may have to talk about, 
and, of course, learn 2-3 useful dialogues in English, having previously modified them to suit yourself, to suit possible situations, taking into account the individual characteristics of your body. Of course, it is very difficult to cover all the useful expressions on this topic in several English dialogues, so you will find additional ones in the next article.
Dialogues in English. At the doctor's 1
— What’s the matter with you? - Tell me exactly where your pain is concentrated?
— I have a splitting headache and my throat is sore. — I have a severe headache and a sore throat.
- Let me examine you and take your temperature. - Allow me to examine you and take your temperature.
- Sure. - Certainly.
- Now just unfasten your coat, waistcoat and shirt and I’ll listen to your heart and chest. - Now unbutton your jacket, vest and shirt, and I will listen to your heart and chest.
— What is your diagnosis [ˌdaɪəg’nəusɪs]? Is it serious? — What is your diagnosis? This is serious?
— I advise you, first of all, to stop worrying. Take a long rest, have regular meals. - First of all, I advise you to calm down. Get plenty of rest and eat regularly
— What diet should I follow? — What diet should you follow?
— Keep to a diet of salad and fruit. Take one table spoonful of this medicine two times a day before meals. — Eat more salads and fruits. Take this medicine one tablespoon twice daily before meals.
- Well, thank you, doctor! - Thank you Doctor!
— Be sure to follow my directions. - Be sure to follow my instructions.
Dialogues in English. At the doctor's 2
—What’s troubling you? - Tell me exactly where your pain is concentrated?
— I’ve got a terrible headache. Have you any tablets for a headache? - I have a terrible headache. Do you have any headache pills?
- How long have you had it? - For a long time?
— Only about two or three hours. - About 2-3 hours.
— Are you allergic to any medications? — Are you allergic to any medications?
— Yes, I am allergic to antibiotics. — Yes, I am allergic to antibiotics.
—Then try this medicine. You'll recover soon. “Then try this medicine.” You will get better soon.
Listen to the dialogue in English:
Dialogues in English. At the doctor's 3
— What are your complaints? -What are you complaining about?
— I’ve caught a cold, I’ve got a sore throat and I am constantly coughing and sneezing. And I have a running nose. — I have a cold, my throat hurts and I am constantly coughing and sneezing. I have a runny nose.
At the doctor's
Next, please. Come in… Take a seat.
Hello, doctor. Last time I came to see you a year ago. You gave me a complete medical check-up then.
OK. And what is the matter with you at the moment? Any complaints?
I don't feel very well. I’ve had an awful headache for 2 days already. Besides I've got a sore throat.
Have you got a high temperature?
I took my temperature this morning. It was 37.9.
That's not so much, I must say.
So much the better, doctor. If it were over 38 degrees I’d be in bed now.
Are you coughing much?
A little bit. I don’t have any fits of coughing but I feel pain when I talk and swallow.
I see. I have to examine your throat and sound your lungs now… Please, strip to the waist. Now take a deep breath. OK. You can breathe out. And now I want you to cough. Good... Well, don’t worry, it’s just a throat infection. There's nothing wrong with your lungs. I’ll prescribe some pills which you should take twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, after your meals. You should also take cough syrup, 3 teaspoonfuls a day will be enough. And it goes without saying that you must not drink any cold liquids.
All right. Is that all doctor?
Oh, yes, I shall not prescribe any antibiotics for you, as you haven’t got bronchitis fortunately. If you follow my directions, you’ll avoid any complications and feel much better in a couple of days. However if the symptoms do not disappear by Thursday you should come and consult me again. So, get well. Here is your prescription. By the way, shall I write out a sick-list?
No, it's all right. I'm on vacation now. Thank you, doctor. Bye-bye.
Next one please. Come on in. Have a seat.
Hello, Doctor. The last time I visited you was a year ago. Then I underwent a full medical examination with you.
Fine. What happened to you now? Any complaints?
I don't feel well. I've had a terrible headache for two days now. Besides, my throat hurts.
Do you have a high temperature?
This morning I took my temperature. It was 37.9.
Not that high, I must say.
So much the better, Doctor. If it had been more than 38 degrees, I would be lying in bed right now.
Do you cough a lot?
A little. I don't have coughing attacks, but it hurts to talk and swallow.
It's clear. I need to examine your throat and listen to your lungs... Please undress to the waist. Now take a deep breath. Fine. You can breathe out. Now I want you to cough. Okay... Well, don't worry. You just have a throat infection. And there is nothing unusual in the lungs. Therefore, I will prescribe you tablets that should be taken twice a day, morning and evening, after meals. You also need to take cough syrup, 3 teaspoons per day will be enough. And, of course, you should not drink cold liquid.
Fine. Is that all, doctor?
Oh yeah. I am not prescribing any antibiotics for you since you do not have bronchitis, fortunately. If you follow my instructions, you will avoid complications and feel much better within a couple of days. However, if your symptoms do not resolve by Thursday, you will need to see me again. Well, get better. Here's your recipe. By the way, should I issue you a sick leave?
When we write articles, we always hope that the material will be useful to our readers and will be useful to them in practice. However, this article unsettled us: we really hope that these materials on how to conduct a dialogue with a doctor in English will never be useful to you in your life. And yet it’s definitely worth learning them, because the English proverb says: better safe than sorry (God protects the safe).
We have written a simple phrasebook for travelers, in which you will find dialogues, phrases and vocabulary on 25 essential topics. Go on a journey with the main character and improve your English. You can download the book for free at.
How to make an appointment with a doctor
So you've been swimming in the sea for too long or sprained your ankle during an excursion. In this case, you need to contact the hotel administrator or ask someone where you can find a doctor. To do this, say: I need a doctor (I need a doctor) or Please, get me a doctor (Please send for a doctor). You may need to make an appointment with your doctor by calling his or her office. In this case, use the following phrases when speaking:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| I would like to make an appointment with Dr. House, please. | I would like to make an appointment with Dr. House. |
| When will the doctor be free? | When will the doctor be free? |
| I'd like to see Dr. House on Monday. | I would like to make an appointment with Dr. House on Monday. |
When talking to you, the administrator may use the following phrases:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Is it urgent? | This is urgent? |
| Do you have private medical insurance? | Do you have health insurance? |
| What's the problem? / What's the matter? / What do you complain of? | What is the problem? / What's happened? / What are you complaining about? (you can respond by describing your symptoms using the phrases below) |
| Which day and what time is good for you? | On what day and at what time will be convenient for you? |
If you need a specialist, the conversation can be conducted using the previous phrases, but you need to know the name of the doctor you need. Fortunately, many doctor names in Russian and English sound almost the same, so you don’t have to learn much.
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| an allergist | allergist |
| a cardiologist | cardiologist |
| a dentist | dentist |
| a dermatologist | dermatologist |
| a GP (general practitioner), a physician | general practitioner, therapist, family doctor |
| a gynecologist (AmE) / a gynecologist (BrE) | gynecologist |
| a neurologist | neurologist |
| an ophthalmologist | ophthalmologist |
| an orthopedic doctor | orthopedic doctor |
| a pediatrician | pediatrician |
| a surgeon | surgeon |
If you or another person needs urgent help, ask someone around you to call her, to do this say: Please, call an ambulance (Please call an ambulance). Ambulance doctors will provide first aid to the victim and, if necessary, take him to the hospital.
Have you decided to call for help yourself? Before traveling, be sure to check with your tour operator or online for all emergency phone numbers. You can call them even if you have no money in your account and without a SIM card. Record the following emergency numbers in your phone:
- 112 - Europe (full list of countries);
- 911 - USA, Canada and NANP countries (full list of countries);
- 999 - Great Britain, Ireland and other countries (full list of countries).
In some cases, when you dial one of these universal numbers, the system will automatically route your call to emergency services. Therefore, if you are shocked and have forgotten which number is valid in a given country, dial any of the numbers listed. The operator will clarify what type of assistance you need and connect you with the appropriate service. To be connected to an ambulance, say: I need an ambulance, please. After connecting, describe your symptoms and give your address, and a specialist will be sent to you.
Let's use dialogue to find out how to make an appointment with a doctor in English.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| A: Hello! I would like to make an appointment with a doctor, please. | A: Hello, I would like to make an appointment with the doctor. |
| B: Hello! Do you need urgent care? What seems to be the problem? | IN: Hello! Do you need urgent help? What's happened? |
| A: Yes, I do. I have a terrible pain in my left arm and my wrist is swollen. | A: Yes, it's urgent. My left hand hurts terribly and my wrist is swollen. |
| B: Do you have private medical insurance? | IN: Do you have health insurance? |
| A: Yes, I do. | A: Yes, I have. |
| B: Ok, I can fit you in today at 3 p.m. Does that suit you? | IN: I can make an appointment for you with a doctor at 3 pm today. Suits you? |
| A: That's great, thank you. | A: Excellent thank you. |
| B: Ok, I will write you in for today at 3 p.m. m. | IN: Okay, I'll make an appointment for you today at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. |
| A: Thank you for your help! | A: Thank you for your help! |
We invite you to watch a video in which you will learn useful phrases to speak with the clinic administrator. They can be used when you go to the doctor and wait your turn, describe your symptoms to the nurse, etc.
Names of disease symptoms in English
You sought medical help and now you need to explain to the doctor what happened to you. Getting a correct diagnosis depends on how accurately you describe your symptoms, so English can literally save lives.
We will give the names of symptoms of diseases in English: that is, this is what you feel, what you are complaining about.
| Word/Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| ill | sick |
| an illness | disease ( internal organs, short) |
| a disease | severe/chronic/fatal illness |
| sickness | nausea |
| an injury | bodily injury |
| a backache | backache |
| a black eye | black eye |
| a blister | blister, callus |
| a bruise | bruise |
| a bump | cone |
| a burn (a sunburn) | burn (sunburn) |
| a chill | chills |
| a cough | cough |
| a cramp | cramp, spasm |
| a cut | a cut |
| an earache | earache |
| a faint | fainting |
| a fever | fever |
| a headache | headache |
| a muscle ache | muscle pain |
| a nosebleed | nosebleed |
| a pain / an ache | pain |
| a rush | rash |
| a scratch | scratch |
| a sore throat | sore throat |
| a stomachache | stomach ache |
| a toothache | toothache |
| bleeding | bleeding |
| blood pressure | arterial pressure |
| constipation | constipation |
| diarrhea/diarrhea | diarrhea |
| indigestion | indigestion, upset stomach |
| insomnia | insomnia |
| inflammation | inflammation |
| sore | inflamed, painful (when muscles ache after heavy physical activity) |
| sore eyes | inflamed (red) eyes |
| to hurt | get sick |
| to sneeze | sneeze |
| to feel dizzy | to feel dizzy |
| to feel weak | feel weak |
| to be broken | broken (My arm is broken. - My arm is broken.) |
| to sprain/pull | sprain (I sprained my ankle. - I sprained my ankle.) |
| to twist | dislocate (I twisted my ankle. - I sprained my ankle.) |
| swollen (leg) | swollen/edematous (leg) |
| runny/running nose | runny nose (runny nose) |
| (my nose is) stuffed up | (my nose) is stuffy |
| (my skin is) itchy | (my skin) itches |
| (to feel) sick | (feel) nauseated |
| to vomit / throw up / puke | tear |
As you already understand, in order to tell the doctor exactly what hurts you, you need to know the names of body parts. Therefore, we recommend that you learn at least the basic concepts from the article “Body Parts in English”.
There are two similar terms for the word “pain” in English: pain and ache. What is the difference? Ache is a long-lasting dull pain that we can endure. The word pain usually refers to more severe pain, for which we go to the doctor. However, in many cases, these two words are interchangeable, because each person has their own pain threshold, and for some, ache can be comparable in strength to pain.
How to report your complaints to your doctor
Now you know the names of the main symptoms in English and can tell the doctor what is bothering you. We suggest using the following simple phrases for dialogue with a doctor in English.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| I am not feeling well. | I do not feel myself well. |
| I feel ill. | I am sick. |
| I feel sick. | I'm sick. |
| I feel dizzy. | I feel dizzy. |
| I've cut myself. | I cut myself. |
I have:
| I have:
|
| My back/arm/head is hurting. / My back/arm/head hurts. | My back/arm/head hurts. |
| It hurts here. | It hurts here. (universal phrase if you have forgotten the name of a body part) |
| I got hit with... | I got hit... |
After you have described your symptoms, your doctor may ask you next questions to clarify the situation. We have also written simple answer options that you can use.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| A: When did you notice the symptoms? When did the symptoms start? | A: When did you notice the symptoms? When did symptoms first appear? |
| B: Yesterday / two days ago / month ago. | IN: Yesterday / 2 days ago / a month ago. |
| A: When do you have the symptoms? | A: When do your symptoms appear? |
| B: Only at night / every morning. | IN: Only at night/every morning. |
| A: How long did the symptoms last? For how long have you been feeling ill? | A: How long do symptoms last? How long have you been sick? |
| B: Three days / four hours / a week. About two days ago and it still hurts. | IN: Three days / four hours / week. About two days ago and it still hurts. |
| A: Did you take any medicine? | A: Did you take any medications? |
| B: I'm taking... | IN: I accept... |
In addition, your doctor may ask you the following questions:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Where's the pain? | Where does it hurt? |
| What seemed to make the symptoms worse? | What do you think is worsening your condition? |
| What have you eaten/drunk? | What did you eat/drink? |
| Have you got any other symptoms? | Do you have any other symptoms? |
| What infectious diseases have you had? | What infectious diseases have you had? |
| Is this the first time this has happened? | Is this the first time this has happened to you? |
| Have you taken your temperature? | Have you taken your temperature? |
| Take your clothes off. | Take off your clothes. |
After the interview, the doctor will conduct an examination, and he may tell you the following words:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Can I have a look? | Can I have a look? |
| Does it hurt when I press here? | Does it hurt when I click here? |
| Could you roll up your sleeve? | Could you roll up your sleeve? |
| I’m going to take your blood pressure/temperature/pulse. | I'm going to take your blood pressure/temperature/pulse. |
| Your blood pressure is low / normal / rather high / very high. | Your blood pressure is low/normal/quite high/very high. |
| Your temperature is normal / a little high / very high. | Your temperature is normal / elevated / very high. |
| Open your mouth, please. | Open your mouth, please. |
| Cough, please. | Cough, please. |
| Take a deep breath, please. | Take a deep breath, please. |
| Breathe out. | Exhale. |
| Don't breathe. | Don't breathe. |
| Lay down over here. | Lie down here, please. |
After the examination, the doctor may prescribe you an additional examination or procedure, as well as give some instructions. We suggest studying the following phrases that a doctor can say in a dialogue with a patient in English:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| You need to have a blood test. | You need to do a blood test. |
| I want you to see a specialist. | I want you to see a specialist. |
| We need to take a urine sample / blood sample. | We need to take a blood/urine test. |
| You need a few stitches. | You need stitches. |
| I want to send you for an X-ray. | I want to send you for an x-ray. |
| I want to send you for an ultrasound. | I want to send you for an ultrasound. |
Making a diagnosis in English
If additional examinations are not required, the doctor will make a diagnosis, and you will need to understand what is wrong with you. We suggest you memorize the names of the main diseases in English.
| Word/Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| (a) brain discussion | concussion |
| a break/fracture | fracture |
| a cold | cold |
| a contagious disease | contagious/infectious disease |
| a heart attack | heart attack, infarction |
| A nervous breakdown | breakdown |
| a stroke | stroke |
| a tumor (benign tumor) / a tumor | tumor (benign tumor) |
| a virus/bug | virus |
| an allergy | allergy |
| an infection | infection |
| an ulcer | ulcer |
| appendicitis | appendicitis |
| arthritis | arthritis |
| asthma (asthmatic) | asthma (asthma patient) |
| bronchitis | bronchitis |
| chicken pox (chicken pox) | chicken pox |
| diabetes | diabetes |
| epilepsy | epilepsy |
| food poisoning | food poisoning |
| hepatitis | hepatitis |
| influenza/the flu | flu |
| pneumonia | pneumonia |
| mumps | piggy |
| tonsillitis | sore throat, tonsillitis |
Now let's look at an example of a dialogue between a doctor and a patient in English.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| A: Hello! What seems to be the problem? | A: Hello! What worries you? |
| B: Hello! I have a nagging pain in my left arm and my wrist is swollen. | IN: Hello! I have a nagging pain in my left hand and my wrist is swollen. |
| A: When did the symptoms start? | A: When did the symptoms first appear? |
| B: About two hours ago and it still hurts. | IN: About two hours ago and it still hurts. |
| A: Can I have a look? Please roll up your sleeve. Does it hurt when I press here? | A: Can I have a look? Please roll up your sleeve. Does it hurt when I click here? |
| B: Yes, it hurts. | IN: Yes, it hurts. |
| A: Well, I want to send you for an X-ray. | A: Okay, I want to send you for an x-ray. |
| B: OK. | IN: Fine. |
| A: Well, it’s not a fracture. You have only sprained your wrist. | A: Well, it's not a fracture. You just sprained your wrist. |
| B: Ok, what are your recommendations? Could you prescribe something? | IN: Okay, what do you advise me? Could you prescribe something for me? |
| A: I’m going to apply a bandage and prescribe you some anti-inflammatory ointment. Do you have any allergies? | A: I'm going to apply a bandage and prescribe you some anti-inflammatory ointment. Are you allergic to anything? |
| B: No, I don’t. | IN: No. |
| A: OK, here is your prescription. You should apply your ointment three times a day. | A: Okay, here's your recipe. You should apply the ointment three times a day. |
| B: Thank you very much! | IN: Thanks a lot! |
| A: Not at all! | A: Please! |
So, the diagnosis has been made, all that remains is to get cured. The doctor will give you his recommendations and a prescription so that you can buy medications at the pharmacy (remedy). Treatment may also include medical procedures. In this case, the doctor can tell you in English what he is going to do.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| I'm going to give you an injection. | I'll give you an injection. |
| I'm going to put on a plaster. | I'll put you in a cast. |
| I'll dress the wound. | I'll bandage the wound. |
| You need a drip. | You need to get an IV. |
| I'm going to prescribe you some antibiotics. | I will prescribe you antibiotics. |
| Do you have any allergies? | Are you allergic to anything? |
| I'll give you a prescription. Take two of these pills three times a day. | I'll give you the recipe. Take two of these tablets three times a day. |
| You must take your medicine four times a day. If you don’t feel better in two or three days, call me again. | You should take your medicine 4 times a day. If you don't feel better in 2-3 days, call me again. |
| We'll need to run some tests. | We need to conduct additional examination. |
| Come back next week if you don’t feel better. | Come back next week if you don't feel better. |
| You shouldn't worry. There's no serious problem. | You shouldn't worry. You don't have any serious problems. |
| I don't think it's too serious. | I don't think it's too serious. |
| You must stay in bed and take your medicine four times a day, after meals. | You should stay in bed and take your medicine 4 times a day after meals. |
| You must follow a diet. | You must stick to your diet. |
| I’d like to keep you here overnight for observation. | I would like to keep you here (in the hospital) for observation. |
| You'll have to stay in hospital for two weeks. | You will have to stay in the hospital for two weeks. |
You can also ask the doctor your questions in English:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| What are your recommendations for me? | What will you advice me? |
| Is it something serious? Is this a common problem at my age? | Is this something serious? Is this normal for my age? |
| When will the tests results come in? Are you going to run more tests? | When will the test results be ready? Are you going to conduct any more examinations? |
| Do I have to be operated on? / Will I need surgery? | Do I need an operation? |
| How long do I have to stay in hospital? | How long do I have to stay in the hospital? |
| Could you prescribe some medicine for me? | Could you prescribe me some medicine? |
| How often should I take this medicine? | How often do I need to take this medicine? |
| Shall I come back next week if I don’t get better? | Should I come see you again next week if I don't get better? |
Watch the following examples of conversations from the British Council, which show you how a doctor's visit progresses from the moment of injury to discharge from hospital.
How to communicate in a pharmacy in English
A pharmacy can be called three in different words: pharmacy, drugstore and chemist’s. What is the difference between them? It is believed that drugstore is the American version of the name of the pharmacy, and the terms pharmacy and chemist’s are better used in the UK. Previously, the word “drug” was used only in the USA and Canada to refer to medical preparations in addition to drugs. Now the word drugstore is already used by residents of Foggy Albion. However, there is another difference between these three terms. In most cases, pharmacies and chemist’s dispense medications only with a doctor’s prescription, while you can also buy over-the-counter medications at drugstores.
Let us now learn the names of different types of medicines in English. This information will be useful if you decide to purchase medications without visiting a doctor.
| Word/Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| a bandage | bandage, bandage |
| a brace | corset, splint, bandage |
| a capsule | capsule |
| a dressing | bandage |
| a laxative | laxative |
| a painkiller | painkiller |
| a sleeping tablet/pill | hypnotic |
| a sticking poster | patch |
| a sling | support bandage |
| a tablet/pill | tablet |
| a tranquilizer | tranquilizer, sedative |
| an antacid | stomach acid reducer |
| an antibiotic | antibiotic |
| an elastic tape | rubber band |
| an inhaler | inhaler |
| antibacterial medication | antibacterial medicine |
| antifebrile | febrifuge |
| antiseptic | antiseptic |
| antiviral medication | antiviral medicine |
| cough medicine | cough medicine |
| drops | drops |
| insulin | insulin |
| medicine/a drug | medicine |
| mixture | medicine |
| ointment | ointment |
| powder | powder |
| syrup | syrup |
What is the difference between the words pill and tablet? Usually a pill is a round tablet that is easy to swallow - a pill. The word tablet usually refers to flat tablets. However, recently these words are increasingly used as synonyms, calling them different types of tablets, as well as capsules.
Let's give an example of a dialogue in a pharmacy in English.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| A: Hello! Can I help you? | A: Hello! I can help you? |
| B: Hello! I am looking for some anti-inflammatory ointment. | IN: Hello! I'm looking for an anti-inflammatory ointment. |
| A: Do you have a prescription? | A: Do you have a prescription? |
| B: Yes, here you are. | IN: Yes, here it is. |
| A: Alright, one moment, please. | A: Okay, one minute please. |
| B: Thanks. Another thing, have you got any bandages for my sprained wrist? | IN: Thank you. And one more thing, do you have bandages, I sprained my wrist? |
| A: Sure, here you are. | A: Of course, here they are. |
| B: Thank you! What is the total? | IN: Thank you! What is the total amount? |
| A: That will be £7, please. | A: 7 pounds please. |
| B: Here you are. Thank you! | IN: Hold it. Thank you! |
| A: Have a nice day! | A: Have a good day! |
By the way, every medicine has side effects; be sure to ask your pharmacist what you can expect from certain pills. You can read more about how to communicate with a pharmacist in the article by our teacher Ekaterina “At the pharmacy, or Useful English in the pharmacy.”
Now you are ready for any situation abroad and will not be confused if you get sick. We hope you will never need this knowledge and you will have a great rest without any unpleasant adventures. And if you want to improve your English in order to feel completely comfortable abroad, we invite you to. Our teachers will teach you to speak competently and beautifully.
Complete list of words and phrases for download
We have compiled 2 documents: one contains all the words and expressions on this topic, and in the second you will find the presented dialogues.
(*.pdf, 327 Kb)
